Sharif family stays out of jail as SC upholds suspension of sentences in Avenfield case

The Supreme Court (SC) dismissed on Monday the National Accountability Bureau's (NAB) plea challenging the Islamabad High Court's (IHC) verdict in suspending the jail term given to the Sharif family in the Avenfield case.

A five-member bench, headed by the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Saqib Nisar, comprising Judge Asif Saeed Khosa, Judge Gulzar Ahmed, Judge Mushir Alam and Judge Mazhar Alam Khan Miankhel took up the bureau's petition.

The bench rejected NAB's petition against the IHC's decision in suspending the jail term given to the Sharif family saying that IHC's decision was given on merit, local media reported. In its ruling, the apex court also said that NAB had failed to provide a reason for the apex court to suspend IHC's verdict.

SC to hear NAB’s appeal against suspension of Sharifs jail term on January 14

Earlier, the bench had asked NAB on what basis should the SC suspend the high court's orders. The court also inquired whether NAB was unable to give his arguments to the bench's queries.

An accountability court convicted Nawaz Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz and son-in-law Captain (retd) Safdar in the Avenfield case. Judge Mohammad Bashir in his judgment, awarded 10 years to Nawaz, seven to Maryam and one year of jail time to Safdar. However, after serving their jail term for only a couple of months, the trio were released on bail after the IHC suspended their sentences.